Along with the development of the country, belief and religious life in Vietnam has had many positive changes, meeting the needs of the majority of people.
 |
| Parishioners of the Ea Hiu Branch of the Protestant Church sing hymns. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In recent years, diverse belief and religious activities in accordance with traditional culture and State policies and laws have contributed to making belief and religious life in Vietnam more diverse. form, promoting the spirit of patriotism and national solidarity.
The return of religious faith, the increase in the number of dignitaries, positions, and followers of religions; Many belief and religious activities take place on a large scale, attracting a large number of believers and people to attend; Recognized religious organizations carry out religious practices consistent with traditional culture, adhere to and accompany the nation, etc. These are positive changes in belief and religious life in Vietnam.
Belief and religious activities have been meeting the belief and religious needs of a large number of people and have made positive contributions to social life.
Create a solid legal basis
Over the past years, Vietnam has gradually improved its legal system, creating a solid legal basis to protect freedom of belief and religion.
Currently, the Law on Beliefs and Religions passed by the 2th National Assembly of Vietnam, second session on November 18, 11 is a legal document that directly regulates the field of beliefs and religions. On December 2016, 30, the Government issued Decree No. 12/2017/ND-CP detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Belief and Religion (Decree No. 162).
On January 1, 1, along with the Law on Belief and Religion (Law), Decree 2018 officially took effect. After 162 years of implementation, Decree 5 has contributed to ensuring everyone's right to freedom of belief and religion, detailing and specifically regulating the contents of the Law assigned to the Decree to implement. In addition, to ensure effective implementation of the provisions of the Law, Decree 162 also stipulates measures to implement the Law.
However, along with the achieved results, Decree No. 162 has appeared some problems and problems, especially the need for more specific measures to effectively implement the Law. That is why, on December 29, 12, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 2023/95/ND-CP stipulating a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Belief and Religion (Decree 2023). Replaces Decree 95. Decree 162 includes 95 articles, an increase of 33 articles compared to Decree No. 8, of which 162 articles remain unchanged, 6 articles are amended, 18 articles and 9 clauses are added (Clauses 2 and 1, Article 2) . In addition, Decree 3 also includes an Appendix containing 95 administrative procedure forms. (Some amendments and supplements to Decree 60 are attached).
Last January, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed a revised Land Law, including land related to religion. Specifically, the State allocates limited land without collecting land use fees for land used as places of worship and headquarters of religious organizations. Religious organizations that use land for other purposes must pay land rent to the State like other organizations and individuals.
Propagating the Party and State's policies
The work of propagandizing and disseminating the Party's policies, policies and laws of the State on beliefs and religions has always been paid attention by state management agencies on religion at all levels, focusing on innovating content and improving the quality of religion. High quality with many forms.
That is demonstrated through the compilation and publication of popular materials and legal education on beliefs and religions; to organizing conferences to disseminate laws for religious officials in the political system and dignitaries, officials, monks, believers... Besides, many thematic films and reports also broadcast on National Television to inform world friends and Vietnamese expatriates abroad to understand the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State of Vietnam, always consistently respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion of all people; contributing to raising awareness and sense of law observance among religious people, strengthening trust among dignitaries and religious followers in the Party and State of Vietnam.
In 2023, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs organized 12 conferences to propagate and disseminate laws on beliefs and religions to 3.420 delegates who are dignitaries, officials, monks, religious followers, and people. representatives and management boards of religious establishments; 3 conferences to train information and propaganda skills for 750 delegates who are dignitaries and religious officials in localities; announced the White Paper "Religion and religious policy in Vietnam" (Vietnamese, English).
 |
| White Paper 'Religion and Religious Policy in Vietnam'. (Photo: Vinh Ha) |
Create conditions for religious organizations to operate according to their Charter, Regulations and legal regulations
The State always cares and creates conditions for religious activities and religious activities of all religions to take place normally. Especially important holidays of religions such as: Buddha's birthday, Vu Lan festival of Buddhism; Catholic and Protestant Christmas and Easter; Yen Dieu Tri Cung Festival, Celebrating the founding day of Cao Dai religion; Kate festival of Cham people; The Muslim holy month of Ramadan... is held on a large scale, attracting a large number of believers to attend.
In 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a decision to recognize religious organizations for 2 organizations (Ta Lon Pious Buddhism, Vietnam Full Gospel Church), decided to approve the proposal to establish the Institute of Theology. Vietnamese Baptist.
Thus, by December 12, the State has recognized 2023 religious organizations, granted religious activity registration to 38 organizations and 2 practice method belonging to 1 religions; Thousands of group places have been granted registration for concentrated religious activities by local authorities, including more than 16 group places for concentrated religious activities of foreigners legally residing in Vietnam. As for Protestantism, from 60-2021, the Northern mountainous region will approve 2023 additional group locations and 170 affiliated religious organizations; 6 Central Highlands provinces approved 5 affiliated religious organizations from group sites that had previously registered for centralized religious activities.
State management agencies in charge of belief and religion at all levels proactively guide religious organizations and affiliated religious organizations to organize conferences and congresses; activities of ordination, investiture, appointment, and transfer of dignitaries and positions; activities to establish affiliated religious organizations; develop and amend the Charter, Regulations, and guidelines for religious practice; Instructions for registering annual activity programs... in accordance with the charter, charter of religious organizations and provisions of law.
Participating in contributing to social life, state management agencies in charge of belief and religion at all levels encourage religions to participate in social activities, charity and humanitarian activities, helping people in difficulty in the region deep and remote areas; Actively respond to patriotic emulation movements for the community, contributing to building and protecting the Fatherland. Many religious organizations have held term Congresses and have selected leadership personnel who are typical dignitaries and positions, with a spirit of dialogue, attachment, and companionship with the nation.
To meet the religious activities needs of dignitaries, officials and religious followers, in 2023, the Religion Publishing House has issued over 690 publishing decisions, with over 2.400.000 printed copies. Many religious scriptures have been published in English, French, and ethnic languages.
Land issues related to religion have always been resolved by the State. Up to now, the number of religious establishments granted land use rights certificates nationwide accounts for more than 70%. The State creates favorable conditions for religious organizations to repair, renovate and build new religious facilities. Up to now, most religious worship facilities have been renovated and many new worship facilities have been built.
Strengthen international relations activities of religious organizations
International relations activities of religious organizations are paid attention to, facilitated, and contribute to promoting the policies and guidelines of ensuring religious freedom of our Party and State to international friends.
In 2023, according to statistics from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, there will be more than 300 dignitaries, officials, and monks of all religions participating in conferences, seminars, and religious training courses abroad, nearly 400 times. number of foreigners entering Vietnam for religious activities.
Religious organizations are facilitated to host and organize major religious events: Vietnam Catholic Church hosts the Conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences in Ba Ria diocese, Ba Ria province - Vung Tau; The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha hosted the Secretariat Conference of the Asian Buddhist Forum for Peace and the Buddhist Leadership Conference of the three countries Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnamese Protestant Churches organize the "Spring of Love" Festival in Ho Chi Minh City,...
 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Archbishop and Vatican Secretary of State Paul Richard Gallagher on April 9. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Vietnam-Vatican relations are progressing positively
In July 7, the Leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade the relationship to the Permanent Representative of the Vatican in Vietnam, through the Agreement on the Operating Regulations of the Permanent Representative and the Permanent Representative Office of the Vatican. saint in Vietnam.
After the two sides announced the agreement to upgrade relations, Pope Francis sent a letter to the Vietnamese Catholic community announcing the upgrade of Vietnam-Vatican relations; recognizes the contributions of dignitaries, lay people and the Vietnamese Catholic Church to serve the nation and the development of society; At the same time, remind Vietnamese Catholic dignitaries and laity to implement the teachings of the late Pope Benedict XVI to Vietnamese Bishops (in 2009) "good laity are also good citizens".
Pope Francis expressed his opinion that the relationship between Vietnam and the Holy See "has progressed and will continue to advance, thanks to recognizing similarities and respecting differences", through which "we can go together." Find the best way to serve the good of the Vietnamese people and the Church."
It can be affirmed that the positive changes in belief and religious life mentioned above are thanks to Vietnam's efforts to ensure freedom of belief and religion. These efforts are not just a matter of day one or two, but are a whole process expressed in every step of the country's development.
